With the holidays fast approaching, I thought it might be fun to share my list of on-the-go tech essentials for any geek technology enthusiast.

Leatherman Sidekick Multi Tool

What’s a “tech essentials” list without at least one multitool? I like this Leatherman Sidekick because of its great tool selection and reasonable price. The pliers are solidly built, and the locking blades are a welcome safety feature.

Fenix PD35 850 Lumen Flashlight

I discovered Fenix flashlights a few years ago, and have been hooked. The Fenix PD32 (link) was my first foray into the PD line, and is still the light I carry most often. Its successor, the Fenix PD35, is pictured below. With a removable clip, six output modes (including strobe), and full one-handed operation, this is a great choice for EDC (everyday carry). If it’s built half as good as my PD32, it will last you for many, many years.

Fenix PD12 360 Lumen Flashlight

Why another flashlight? This Fenix PD12 is small enough to fit on a keychain so there is little chance of you forgetting to take it with you. It runs on a single CR123A battery, which is the same type that the PD35 uses.

Swiss+Tech Utili-Key 6-in-1

This is one of those subtle little tools that you don’t even notice until you need it. Great for when you accidentally leave your full-sized multitool at home.

Pluggable USB 3.0 Memory Card Reader

Unlike most other memory card readers, this one has a built-in cable, which makes it great for travel. And, in addition to the usual SD, microSD, and MMC families, it supports the Sony Memory Stick (MS, MS Pro Duo, etc.) card types.

Micro USB to USB On-the-go adapter cable

This little USB OTG adapter cable is great for letting you access USB storage from your phone. When paired with the memory card reader above, you’ll be able to upload photos from your camera without a computer!

Anker 3.6A Dual USB Wall Charger

This one kind of speaks for itself – when you’re on the go, a quality USB charger is a must. The Anker 3.6A Dual USB Wall Charger has two ports – one designed for Android and the other for Apple devices. I like this one because of its slim design and lack of annoying LEDs.

Panasonic In-Ear Headphones

These Panasonic In-Ear Headphones have no business being as good as they are, especially considering that they’re under $10. They sit comfortably in the ear and produce surprisingly good sound.

Anker 10000mAh Portable USB Charger

For long car rides, a quality portable USB charger is a necessity. This Anker 10000mAh Portable USB Charger has two ports, and holds enough juice to charge an iPhone 4+ times or a Galaxy S4 2+ times.

Targus XL Backpack

With all of these essentials in hand, you’ll need a way to store and transport them. For the last 2.5 years, I have been carrying the Targus XL backpack.

Let’s get something out of the way: this backpack is huge. It’s designed to hold a 17″ laptop and it does so with ease. Even with a laptop, you’ll have enough room to hold multiple textbooks and most of the items mentioned on this page. It has an incredible number of pockets and zippered compartments for storing anything you could imagine. It is easily the most quality constructed backpack I have used, as well.